You may have noticed that, in recent years, companies have started to value certain behavioral skills even more, right? We are talking about soft skills, which define the way you will deal with your work on a daily basis and are already a priority for companies. This means that they need organized, resilient, and focused employees, for example, and also adaptable professionals.
When we consider recent events, such as the arrival of artificial intelligence, it is easy to understand why organizations need the soft skill of adaptability so much. If in the past many areas, sectors and professions had predictable and almost unchangeable trajectories, this is no longer possible today.
Everyone, without exception, needs to know how to deal with sudden changes and adversities to survive in the job market. After all, in the midst of so many transformations, the company needs to count on partner employees. Those who will take a deep breath, roll up their sleeves and work together to overcome all the new challenges and changes.
Therefore, if you want to be more adaptable and be even more recognized by the job market, it is worth investing in this emotional skill. To do this, we will help you with a list that goes straight to the point. With 6 infallible tips, it will guide your process to add another soft skill to your resume.
Adaptable Professional: How to Become One in 6 Steps
1 – Develop an optimistic outlook on life
The first step is to understand that the mother of adaptability is optimism. People who can see the glass as half full, see opportunities in obstacles, and are always hopeful about the future, even if everything is upside down right now, tend to be the most adaptable.
This happens because they are able to understand that, in the end, everything will work out. So, when changes come along and leave many employees with their hair on end, they are the first to think of the positive side, acting strategically to ensure the best possible result.
2 – Expose yourself to different situations outside your “comfort zone”
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to try new flavors when you spend a lot of time trying the same thing? Your brain gets used to that one option and becomes “addicted,” so it’s normal for it to find a different flavor strange. So, know that the same thing happens in many other aspects of life.
Always experiencing the same things, taking the same path, never traveling to new places, not meeting new people and, ultimately, never exposing yourself to new and different things, will “rigidify” you. You become less flexible, you can’t keep an open mind, you want everything to always stay the same because it’s what you already know, and you develop an aversion to new possibilities.
You can see that this is the portrait of someone who is not very adaptable at work, right? So, whenever possible, remember to leave your “comfort zone”. Discover new places, flavors and views. Let your brain be enchanted by other ways of thinking and seeing the world. And watch the magic happen in your professional life too.
3 – Be curious and learn to explore
In fact, a great tactic for opening yourself up to new things is to develop a curious outlook.
The more interested you are in life and the world, the more you will want to see more and understand more. Soon, you will develop a more adventurous and exploratory personality, one that wants to satisfy this curiosity and ends up finding a universe of possibilities along the way.
Furthermore, curiosity will also make you study new things in your profession. You will find new things, different ways of working, perhaps a career transition and many tools to deal with changing situations. After all, the more you know about your field, the easier it is to adapt to new things.
4 – Work on your emotional intelligence
Having emotional intelligence is nothing more than knowing how to deal with your feelings and emotions. So, in difficult times, full of changes, challenges and obstacles, being able to understand and deal with your emotions is very valuable.
This way, you will be able to focus on what really matters, giving due attention to the importance of adaptability and also being able to deal with everything that comes with transformations, on a psychological level.
5 – Keep an eye on trends and news in your area
Did you know that being proactive is also a way to be flexible? After all, when you follow the market and know the trends and new developments in the field, you increase your chances of knowing in advance what might happen in your work.
So, when the changes come, it won’t be a shock. You’ll be prepared to work in the midst of the transformations, and you’ll even know what to do to make this time as smooth as possible.
6 – Always be looking for updates and new knowledge
Finally, in addition to knowing the trends and news, it is essential to be up to date.
The more you know about the current methodologies and techniques of your profession, the easier it will be for you to make changes. You have learned new knowledge, developed valuable skills and put yourself in a position of apprentice, understanding that we can always learn more to deliver better work.